Improvement in invalid-bedsteads



UNITED STATES PATENT OETTGE.

WILLIAM HEATH, OF BATH, MAINE.

IM PROVEM ENT IN -INVALl D-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,600, dated November13, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM HEATH, of Bath, in the county of Sagadahocand State of Maine, have invented an Improved Invalid- Bedstead; and Ido hereby declare the same to be fully described in the followingspeciication and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which-Figure l is a top view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a rearelevation, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section, of it.

1 In the said drawings, A denotes the frame for supporting the operativeparts, it being formed as represented or otherwise suitably made. At ornear one end of this frame is whatIterm the seat-frame l), whichconstitutes part of the bedstead-frame, which iscomposed of fourportions, B C D E, all of which are to be suitably connected together byhinges i k l, and upholstered or provided with cushions, as shown at b cd e.

W'ithin the frame A, and against opposite sides of it, two toothedsectors, F F, are arranged and applied to the frame, so as to be capableof being moved on centers and in vertical planes, and by means of gearsG G, fixed on a horizontal shaft, H, extended across the frame A, andbeing supported in metallic boxe or bearings applied thereto.

From each of the toothed sectors an arm, f, supported by a strut, g, isextended toward, underneath, and against the parte of the bedframe. Thefront edge of the said parte rests on the said two arms.

There are also one or more arms, L h, which are extended from theportion C and underneath and against the portion B.

An elastic band or spring, I, extends from the part C to the part E, andat its ends is fastened to the bottoms of such parts.

When the part E is in the act of being elevated by the toothed sectorsthe said band I serves to depress or decline the part C, other elasticbands or springs, K K, which connect the part B with the part E, andwhich are arranged as represented, operating at the same time tomaintain the foot-rest or part B in a level or nearly level position.

The said two bands K K go through rings fixed to the ends of the twoparts C D, and,

besides operating the foot-rest, they serve to keep the bed-clothes frombeing caught in the joints of the bed. t

There is applied to the seat part D a case, L, for holding achamber-potor vessel, a seathole, M, being made in the cushion of the part D, andprovided with a tunnel or conductor, N, leading down from it into thecase L. A cushion-cover, O, may be applied to the hole M. The hole M isdesigned for the convenience of a patient or invalid when it may benecessary for him to effect either a urinal or fecal evacuation.

One great merit of my invalid-bedstead is the simplicity of themechanism for operating its movable parts B C E. A person while in thebed has his back against a part, E, and his feet on the portion B.

Then the part E is elevated, the portions B and C serve to support thelegs.

An invalid-bedstead made as hereinbefore explained, and represented inthc accompanying drawings, is calculated to be of great convenience to asick person, or to one who may be suffering from amputation of a leg orthigh, as bymcans of it he can be readily brought from a horizontal upinto an inclined position to such extent as may be desirable.

In case the same may be deemed essential, a spring-band, S,may beapplied to the part E and the bott-om of the case L, such band being toaid in depressing the part E.

I am aware that a bedstead has been made with a movable back, leg, andfoot-rests combin ed with a seat, the whole being upholstered.

I am also aware that such a bedstead has had a close stool or itsequivalent combined with it. Therefore I do not claim such.

That I claim as my invent-ion isl. The combination for simultaneouslyoperating or moving the leg and back portions (l and E of the bed, thesame consisting of the shaft H, its gears G G, the toothed sectors F F,the arms ff, and the spring or band I, the whole being applied to theframe A and the ,said portions C and E, and arranged there with,substantially in manner and so as to operate as specified.

2. The combination and arrangement of the bands K K with the parts B C DE, and the mechanism for operating the two parts C E, substantially asdescribed.

VILLIAM HEATH.

Witnesses:

J AMES W. FRYE, FEANcIs E. WILsoN.

